• CHERYL G. CRUZ
PrimeWater and the Bacolod City Water District must ensure that water depletion will not reach crisis level, Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Benitez said April 20.
The solon noted a reduction in the current volume of water amid the dry season, and told the water providers that “whatever contingencies and strategies that must be employed should be employed now. (They must) pull out all the stops. Responsibilidad ninyo na siguruhing hindi mawawalan ng tubig ang mga Bacolodnon.”
He said his office will “engage with all relevant stakeholders so that we can be on top of the situation”, and urged residents to be more judicious in using water and prevent wastage.
Mayor Greg Gasataya earlier directed the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office to prepare tanks and deploy water trucks for rationing efforts in areas with limited, or no access to water.
This after engineers John Arthur Ramire and Allan Paul Genovata of PrimeWater told the mayor in a meeting last week that the supply from the Bacolod Bulk Water Inc. (BBWI) already significantly dropped in the northern areas of the city, from 24 million liters per day (MLD) to 16 MLD.
As the dry season persists, PrimeWater’s overall production capacity also decreased, from 100 MLD to 87 MLD, with further reductions expected in the coming days, the city earlier reported. The company’s supply capacity was at 70 MLD in 2025. | CGC
